Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1887-07-09
BITS OF NEW YORK LIFE.
Glimpses o. the Metropolis Through
the Eyes Of Cummings and Hail.

eIbnsPscS " tne IHetIOVO11S lnHOugn
the Eyes OF Cummings and Hail.
NEW roRK's SEASIDE sUBURBs-THE MANY MYs-
TERIEs OF CoNEY IsLAND-A PLACE WHERE THE
'ToUGH" Is sUBDUED HOW A GAMBLER TRI-
CNPHED OVER A MILILoNAIkE, ETC.
Special Correspondence of THE EVENING STAR.
NEW YORK, July 8.
Every twenty-four hours from now until cooler
weather comes, a daily average OF $4,000 or more
New Workers viii leave the city to get fresh air at
the neighboring seaside places. Coney Island, the
most famous OF American seaside resorts, will get
the majority OF this immense traffic. The iron
steamers, each capable OF carrying 1000 passen-
gers, make seventeen trips day. The Bay Ridge
route-half steamer and half rail-transports Its
immense complement OF pleaSure-SeekerS and
lines OF railway from Long Island City and
Brooklyn take thousands OF eXcursionists
through parad1ses OF gardens and green
trees to the cool shores OF the island. 1t is
remarkable that so few accidents occur on these
many lines OF travel. Steamboats, denSely crowded
and rushing at fuli speed through the dense fog
that rises so suddenly on the waters of the bay
traverse the track OF scores OF vessels, and trains
OF open cars peoped with passengers as thickly as
they can SIT, run at the rate OF thirty to fifty miles
an hour over the confusing labyrinth OF tracks
leading to the island, but about the only deaths
on these avenues OF traffic that have occurred
since the great watering place OF Coney Island
was opened in 1873, have been those OF little chill
dren In arms who have expired from the SuffO-
eating heat of the great crowds. Another notable
fact is the absence In latter years OF drunken
fights the lines OF travel to and from the Island
ANY one who has fifty cents on hand can make the
trip, and the cheapness OF the luxury invites a
miscellaneous crowd, but there seems to be GER
tain salutary effect In the salt air that Quels
the quarrelsOmeness OF the "tough.D Yet one is
constantly reminded that
THE TOUGH Is ABROAD.
This was exempl fed q few evenings ago by an
incident that happened In one Of the coaches that
ply between the iron piers at end of the island
and the Brighton Beach Hotel about half the dis
lance up the beach. The COney Island hackman
charges that distinguished the Niagara Jehu, and
the fare IS only cents On the night In question
the conductor came around with his usual call OF
"FareS, pleaSe!" a young man with keen, rest
less eyes said: 81 paid you my fare. To the aston
ishment OF the other passengers the conductor
called the young man liar and said in forcible
manner: ooh. / know your game! Fork over or
I'll throw ye out. The young man fOrked over.
Later one OF the force OF PinkertOn's detectives
drove the young man away under pain Of arrest
as a suspicious character. He sought refuge on
that part of the shore patroled by the eighty po-
lice OF the Gravesend force, and they compelled
him to take train and return to New York. ii Is
famous sneak thief and pickpOcket. The police
surveillance Of COney Island is now SO perfect that
diSSOlute characters have in the main been driven
away, and all the gambling hellS. which last sea-
son disgraced the place, are closed.
A COSMOPOLITAN CROWD.
Nowhere in America can such q cosmopolitan
crowd be seen. On one OF the steamers bound to
the island few afternoons ago was an Indian
two Turks, wearing their red turbans and smoking
cigarettes OF Turkish tobacco; well-tO-do China
man, glorious in a lavender-colOred robe, black
trousers, and gaily5em6roidered, wooden,soled
brewS talking in their native tongue, no end of
Germans, and Americans and Irish almost 1nnu-
featured, marvelously handsome ladies, with great
blazing black eyes. They were dressed in ex-
Quiste taste and were earnestly talking In pecu-
lYo~ N d,ply -
young man. They were CreOleS from New Orleans
and the ladies were voted the most beautiful ever
seen at COney Island.
OF 5000 meals each day. to say nothing Of the vast
quantities OF cheap luncheOns sold at the lunch
booths. Even an old habitue of the resort cannot
quite discover how all these provisions reach 1t.
The steamers seem to carry little or no freight,
and no one ever sees freight or express train
theless tons OF fresh and very palatable food go
down daily from New York, and it appears to
reach its destination as II by magic. Gallons Of
champagne of the finest brands, barrels of beer
and thousands OF cigars are consumed there daily.
One hotel sold $1,000 worth OF meals on the
Fourth Of July, and three of the largest houses
get not less than $1.5O for each meal served.
OTHER MYSTERIES OF CoNEY ISLAND
1t Is O matter OF mystery, too, where all the
walters that scamper through the dining rooms
are found. The old habitue of prominent hotels
Will discover, however, that they have been drafted
from houses all over the Union. They are an oddly
jacket waiter from western restaurant to the
benign, elderly-appear1ng, old ServitOr from an
uptown New York hotel TT They are inclined to be
fee without so much as "Thank you" Some of
them have been going to COney Island ever since
1t became popular resort, nearly decade ago,
and several OF them are reported to be WeIl-tOsdo
as the fruit OF their tips
Thousands Of concert singers, shouters for shows
and photograph galleries and employees OF the six
merry go-rOundS and other catch-penny devices
live constantly at Coney Island during the season.
The lodging accommodations, aside from the big
hotels, are limited, and one is led to wonder where
this vast army OF outsiders sleep. That they are
not given to devotional exercises or literature is
proven by the absence OF churches or book stores,
but that many persons have to take drugs to
counterfeit the affects of the violent liquors sold at
the resort, and the imprudent eating so prevalent
THERE'S atteSted by the several little circular drug
stores scattered along the shore. Each of the
principal hotels has displayed in its Office the sign
OF resident physician, and the practice is so lu-
cratiye that skilled doctors the appointment
which comes at the hands OF the hotel manager.
Coney Island is great place and 1t has great no
accredited with making more clear profit than any
house ON the shore. AMOS j. CUMMINGS.
THE GAMBLERS TRIUMPH.
Twas Immensely amused the other night at an
incident which concerned the affections Of mil
honaire. a burle5que actress, and gambler There
was contest. The gambler won. In New York
nowadays the gambler always does win. His Ope-
rattons on the racing tracks have been legalized,
In town and is invariably welLmannered, placid
and polite. The particular gambler who was one
Of the three principal actors in the little drama
that entertained crowd OF loiterers is perhaps
the most popular bookmaker in New York. He is
twenty Eight, calm eyed, equitable and good
natured, and he lives luxuriously. He sat well
down in his chair in the Hoffman House smoking
and listening with an air OF quiet amusement 10
the talk. There were eight or ten men about town,
actors and FOUNDERS in the circle Beside the gam
bier sat q well made young fellow who is Of agood
Old Knickeroocker family, worth million dollars,
and an arduous and hard-work1ng slayer of femi-
nine hearts. He affects the women of the stage
The latest comic opera burleSque success always
catches his fancy. woman has recently risen
rapidly on the stage here. She Is the goddess OF
the worshipers or stage divtnities Just now, and
enjoys the pleasing nickname .'Trixie."
The conversation Jagged for q moment and the
young millionaire yawned slightly and said In O
reflective sort OF way:
II believe I'll send up to the theater and have
Trix come down TO supper with me-"
81 was just thinking Of sending for her myself, !"
said the gambler, Strengthening up and smiling at
the other The others chaf1ed them both for q
moment; women OF the stage who do not protect
their own regulations viii not easily find others to
do IL for them.